American League East 2020 Preview

It was the best of teams, it was the worst of teams. The Yankees were a behemoth last year, while the Orioles were the absolute worst team in baseball, but there may be some interesting clubs in between. The Red Sox aren’t quite what they used to be, while the Rays may be serious contenders and the Blue Jays have a team on the rise. Here is a preview of the American League East.

Baltimore Orioles

2019 record: 54-108

2019 pythag: 60-102

2020 ZIPS projection: 21-39

Notable additions: Jose Iglesias, Wade LeBlanc, Tommy Milone, Pat Valaika

Notable losses: Dylan Bundy, Trey Mancini (cancer), Mark Trumbo, Jonathan Villar

The Orioles were god-awful last year, and they’ll be without their best hitter this year as Trey Mancini tries to recover from colon cancer. The Orioles should be the worst team in baseball again this year by a pretty good margin. Presumably there is a light at the end of the tunnel but it is still too far away to see right now.

Boston Red Sox

2019 record: 84-78

2019 pythag: 87-75

2020 ZIPS projection: 31-29

Notable additions: Austin Brice, Yairo Munoz, Jose Peraza, Martin Perez, Kevin Pillar, Kevin Plawecki, Alex Verdugo

Notable losses: Mookie Betts, Andrew Cashner, Brock Holt, Sandy Leon, Steve Pearce, Rick Porcello, David Price

The Red Sox may not win a division title this year, but they can at least raise a “we got under the luxury tax threshold in 2020” banner. The team dealt Mookie Betts to the Dodgers in order to move his salary and half of the remaining amount of David Price’s $96 million contract (which has been further reduced with the shortened season). They still have some very talented hitters who could be in MVP consideration like Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, but the pitching staff looks like a mess with Chris Sale out for the year after Tommy John surgery, Eduardo Rodriguez out after a COVID-19 positive test, and free agent Collin McHugh deciding to opt out after his arm didn’t respond this summer.

New York Yankees

2019 record: 103-59

2019 pythag: 99-63

2020 ZIPS projection: 34-26

Notable additions: Gerrit Cole

Notable losses: Dellin Betances, Greg Bird, Jacoby Ellsbury, Edwin Encarnacion, Didi Gregorius, Austin Romine, CC Sabathia

The Yankees won 103 games last year, added the best free agent starting pitcher in Gerrit Cole, and get their top two sluggers back with the return of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The Bronx Bombers lived up to their nickname last year by leading the league with 943 runs, and they could be even better this year if they are healthy. Aroldis Chapman leads a deep bullpen although he is currently out with a positive COVID-19 test.

Tampa Bay Rays

2019 record: 96-66

2019 pythag: 93-69

2020 ZIPS projection: 33-27

Notable additions: Manuel Margot, Jose Martinez, Hunter Renfroe, Yoshi Tsutsugo

Notable losses: Jesus Aguilar, Travis d’Arnaud, Avisail Garcia, Guillermo Heredia, Emilio Pagan, Tommy Pham, Austin Pruitt, Eric Sogard

The Rays had a very interesting off-season where they revamped their outfield and added Japanese first baseman/third baseman/left fielder Yoshi Tsutsugo, who hit .272/.388/.511 with 29 home runs for Yokohama last year. Expect the Rays to be creative with their pitching staff, which will be anchored by Blake Snell and Charlie Morton, and could add top prospect Brendan McKay during the year.

Toronto Blue Jays

2019 record: 67-95

2019 pythag: 71-91

2020 ZIPS projection: 27-33

Notable additions: Chase Anderson, Anthony Bass, Joe Panik, Tanner Roark, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Travis Shaw

Notable losses: Clay Buchholz, Derek Law, Luke Maile, Justin Smoak

The Blue Jays have one of the best collection of young hitters in the league, led by Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. They sought to upgrade their pitching staff by adding free agent Hyun-Jin Ryu Tanner Roark, and trading for Chase Anderson, as well as bringing relievers Shun Yamaguchi and Rafael Dolis from Japan. The biggest question is - where will this team play?